Aaron Ripkowski's first fumble proves costly for Green Bay Packers

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The Sports Xchange

Green Bay Packers fullback Aaron Ripkowski (22) fumbles the ball in front of Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins (32) who recovers during the first half of the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on January 22, 2017 in Atlanta. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

The first fumble for second-year fullback Aaron Ripkowski in possibly his entire football-playing career, even going back to childhood, won't be forgotten for a long time.

Ripkowski had the football stripped by Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins at the end of an impressive drive by the Green Bay Packers in the first half. Ripkowski had plowed up the middle for 12 yards to the Atlanta 11-yard line before the ball came out.

Collins scooped it up near the goal line and rolled into the end zone for a touchback.

Instead of getting at least three points, if not a touchdown, out of that possession, Green Bay watched the Falcons go 80 yards the other way for a touchdown that put them ahead 17-0 midway through the second quarter.

"I'd say the big momentum swing was when I fumbled the ball," Ripkowski said. "It's tough to fight back from."

Ripkowski couldn't pinpoint how he lost control of the football as he was being taken to the ground by Collins and other Falcons defenders.

"My guess will be I just didn't double wrap it in time and a defender I didn't see just got his hand in there and popped it out," Ripkowski said. "We'll learn from it."